Feeler mechanism for looms



UNITED s TATEsPAjTENr OFFICE.

ISAAC SNOW, OF LAWRENCE, xassAcHUsRTTs, ssxeNOR To DRAPER CORPORATION, or HornnALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification Of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application led June 11, 1920. Serial No. 388,277.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC SNOW, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mecha- A nisms for looms, whereby replenishment of filling is effected when that in the shuttle reaches a degree of substantial exhaustion.

The present feeler mechanism is an improvement On the typeknown as the side swipe4 feeler mechanism, and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a. feeler mechanism of the side swipe type in which the feeler will be more sensitive to the presence or substantial absence of filling in the shuttle, and effect replenishment of filling only when substantial exhaustion occurs.

In the present invention, the feeler is mounted loosely upon a feeler carrier, and between the feeler and feeler carrier guiding means is provided which, when the feeler is moved frontwardly relative to the feeler carrier on a detecting beat, will effect lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. The particularvformmof guiding means between the feeler carrier and the feeler consists, in the present instance, of cams and projections, the one on the feeler and the other on the feeler carrier, which are arranged to give to the feeler its lateral or side swipe movement when it is moved frontwardly relative to the feeler carrier.

The above and other novel features of the invention will hereinafter be described in connection with the accompanying drawings which show one good, practical form of the invention, and then the novel features of the invention will be defined by` `feeler detects substantial vexhaustion of filling in the shuttle, is .-not herein shown and described, because it is and may be of the train of mechanism between the. feeler and the replenishing mechanism or the parts whlchset the replenishing mechanism into operation when the feeler is moved laterally on a detecting beat, may be of any approprlate character and construction, a number of such trains" of mechanism being well known 1n the present state of the art.-

In the drawingsz Flgure l is a plan view showing the feeler mechanism and its action when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to that of Fig. l, showing the operation of the feeler mechamsm when filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat; and

. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the feeler mechanism detached. v

The shuttle l carries the usual filling carrier or bobbin 2 on which thefilling 3' is wound, and it has an opening 4 inthe side wall of the shuttle "through which the feeler may pass and feel for the filling. The shuttle-box with the usual slotted front wall is not shown, as it `may be of usual construction and-is well understood by those skilled in the art.4

The feeler is mounted upon a feeler carrier which is itself mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom. There are two general kinds of eeler oarriers, one of which is mounted for swinging movement toward and from the front of the loom, and the other Of which is mounted for reciprocating or sliding movement. In the present instance of the invention, the latter type of feeler carrier is shown.

The feeler stand 5 is suitably constructed for supporting the feeler and feeler carrier, and in the present instance comprises a plate having the rear and front flanges 6 and 7 which, as will presently appear, afford convenient guiding means for the stems frontwardly extending from the feeler carrier and feeler. The front end portion of the feeler stand 5 is downturned as at 8, to afford a convenient means for attaching the feeler mechanism adjustably to a support.

The feeler carrier consists a, plate 9 which is guided in suitable ways 10. formed in the rear flange 6 of the feeler stand, and extending frontwardly from the feeler carrier is the stem 11 which passes through a guide opening in the front flange 7 and in front of the flange is provided with a stop in the form of a pin 12 which, when the feeler carrier is in its rearward position, abuts against the surface of the flange 7.

A spring 13 is mounted upon the stem 11 and one end 'of the spring bears against a shoulder 14 formed on the feeler carrier, and the other end against the rear surface of the flange 7 as at 15, the construction being such that the spring 13 normally holds the feeler carrier in its rearward feeling position.

The feeler is loosely mounted upon the feeler carrier as contra-distinguished to being pivotally supported thereby; and in order to properly confine the feeler to the feeler carrier, the latter has a cover or confining plate 16, Fig. 3, which may be spaced from the surface of the feeler carrier 9 and secured to the feeler carrier by means of the pins 17. As a further means of spacing the cover 16 from the plate 9, the former may have the downturned corner portions 18. The feeler 19 has a toothed rear end portion 2O which is adapted to engage the fillingona detecting beat, and by such engagement, prevent lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler when a Working su ply of filling is present in the shuttle.

ince the feeler is loosely mounted upon the feeler carrier, guiding means are provided between the feeler and feeler carrier to cause lateral movement of the feeler when it is pushed frontwardly relative to the feeler carrier on a detecting beat. In the present 'instance of the invention, the feeler is provided with cam portions 21 and 22, one at each side of the longitudinal axis of the feeler. Mounted upon one of the pins which connect the cover 16 to the feeler carrier is a roller 23 which normally is seated in the cam 21 of the feeler; and similarly mounted upon one of the pins 17 is another roller 24 which is normally seated in the cam 22, the two cams 21 and 22 being separated longitudinally or lengthwise of the feeler and at opposite sides thereof.

From the construction thus far described, it will be apparent that should the feeler 19 be pushed frontwardly relatively to the 'feeler carrier, the cams and projections between the feeler and feeler`- carrier will cause the feeler to be moved laterally. Opposite the roller 23 one of the pins 17 heretofore described, bears against the opposite inclined surface of the feeler at 25, the rear surface of the feeler being formedl into a stop 26 which, when the feeler moves frontwardly, limits the extent of its frontward movement reljaltive to .fthe feeler carrier. Another one of the pins 17, about central of the feeler carrier between the rolls 23 and 211, serves to limit the extent of lateral movement of the feeler when it is moved frontwardly. The pins 17 just described, and the rollers upon these pins cooperate with the feeler to limit its movement upon the feeler carrier.

The feeler 19 is normally held in its rearward feeling position under the action of a spring, the tension of which, however, is lighter than the spring 13 heretofore described as holding the feeler carrier in its rearward position. In the present instance the feeler has connected to it at 27, a frontwardly-extending stem 28 which passes through an opening in the front flange 7 of the feeler stand, and interposed between a shoulder 29 of the stem and the rear face of the flange 7 is the light spring 30 which normally acts to hold the feeler in its rearward feeling position relative to the feeler carrier. Connected to the feeler at 31 is the transmitter 32 which controls the operative or inoperative'position of the train of mechanism which effects replenishment of filling.

The cam surface 21 and the surface 25 on the feeler, as hereinbefore described, may be conveniently formed on an incline portion 33 of the feeler, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

When a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, the toothed engaging end 2O of the feeler sinks into the filling and is held thereby from lateral movement, the effect being that the frontward push upon the feeler 19 acts through the cams and rollers or guiding means between the feeler and feeler carrier to force the feeler carrier frontwardly coincident with the frontward movement of the feeler, which of course remains in its undisturbed lateral` relation to the feeler carrier. When, however, the filling in the shuttle has reached a degree of substantial exhaustion and is no longer capable of preventing lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler, the feeler will be pushed frontwardly as before; but as its rear end is no longer held from lateral movement by the filling, the guiding means between the feeler and feeler carrier permit the feeler to be moved laterally under the frontward pressure exerted upon it, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. When the feeler is thus moved laterally by its frontward movement relative to the feeler carrier, it acts through the transmitter 32 to effect replenishment of filling.

What is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler loosely mounted on the feeler carrier and having two cam surfaces one on each side of the feeler, rollers mounted on the feeler carrier at opposite sides of the feeler and normally engagin the cams and effecting lateral movement o the feeler relative to the feeler carrier when fillin 1s substantially exhausted on a detecting eat.

carrier and having 1ts longitudinal axis exeeler loosely mounted on the feeler carrier, a cam and a projection, one on theteeler and tending in the direction of movement ofthe carrier, cams and coperatlng projectlons between the feeler and' feeler carrier disposed longitudinally of the feeler and constructed and arranged to cause side swipe,

movement of the feeler relative to the feeler carrier when the 'filling is substantially exhausted on a detectin-g beat.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a eeler carrier mounted for .movement toward and from the front of the loom, a

the other on the eeler carrier, constructed and arranged to cause a lateral movement of the feeler when the feeler is moved front- Wardly independently of the eeler carrier, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when by reason of relative movement of the feeler and feeler carrier the `cam and projection cause movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

' .4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler loosely mounted on the feeler carrier, a cam and a projection, one on the feeler and the other on the feeler carrier, constructed and arranged to cause a lateral movement of the feeler when the feeler is moved frontvvardly independently of the feeler carrier, and a sto to limit the frontward movement of the fee er relative to the feeler carrier.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler support, a eeler mounted on the su port for movement longitudinally of the slliuttle and held from such movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, sets of cams and projections at op osite sides of the feeler, one set on the fee er and one on the feeler support, and acting upon the feeler to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat when the feeler fails tobe held from such movement by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combinationI of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the fronti-orI the loom, a feeler loosely mounted on the feeler carrier, interengagmg guiding means at separated points frontwardly along the feeler and between the feeler and feeler darrier constructed and arranged to effect lat eral movement of the feeler when it is moved frontwardly relative tothe feeler carrier, and means normally acting to yieldingly maintain the feeler rearwardly relative to the feeler carrier.

7..In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, a spring normally acting to hold it in rearward position, a feeler loosely mounted upon the feeler carrier for bodily movement relative thereto, cams'and projections formed on the feeler and feeler carrier at ldifferent dis tances from'the rear end of the feeler constructed and arranged to effect lateral move- `ment of the feeler When the feeler is moved bodily in a frontward direction relative to the A.feeler carrier. l j

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a `feeler carrier, a spring normally acting to hold it in rearward position, a feeler loosely mounted upon the feeler carrier for bodily movement relative thereto, cams andprojections formed on the feeler and feeler carrier at points separated longitudinally of the feeler constructed and .arranged to effect lateral movement of the feeler when the feeler is moved bodily in a carrier, and stops for limiting the relative movements of the` feeler and feeler carrier.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler loosely mounted onthe feeler carrier, cams and projections on the feeler and feeler carrier separated a distance lengthwise of the feeler and adapted to cause lateral movement of the feeler when it is moved frontwardly relative to the yfeeler carrier, a spring normally acting to holdthe feeler projected rearwardly with the cams and projections in engage ment, sto s for limiting the rearward and frontwari movements of the feeler relative to the feeler carrier; I

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler mounted for limited bodily and lateral movements on the feeler carrier and having an inclined portion, and lprojections from the feeler carrier which are normally engaged with the inclined portion at opposite sides of the feeler and which in coperation With the inclined por tion of the feeler effect lateral movement of the feeler When it is moved rontwardly relative to the feeler carrier.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

i combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler mounted for limited bodily and lateral movements on the feeler carrier and having an inclined portion, projections from the feeler carrier which are normally engaged with the inclined Irontward direction relative to the feeler portion atopposite sides. of the feeler and Which incoperation W1th the incllned p0rtion of the feeler effect lateral movement of thev feeler when it is moved frontwardly relative to the eeler carrier, and a transmitter connected to the feeler.

*'12.. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the f ront of the loom, a feeler mounted for limited bodlly and lateral movements on the lfeeler carrier and having an inclined portion, projections from the feeler carrier vvhich are normally engaged with the lnchned portion at oppositesides of the feeler and which, in coperation with the inclined portion of the feele'r effect lateral movement of the feeler when it is moved frontwardly relative to the feeler carrier, a sprmg normally acting to hold the feeler carrier in rear position, and a lighter spring independently acting on Athe feeler to normally hold the eeler in rearposition on the feeler carrier.

13. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler supporting member, a feeler loosely mounted thereon for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle and adapted to be held by the filling from moving longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat until the filling is substantially exhausted, cam surfaces upon Aopposite sides of the feeler, and spaced from each other longitudinally of the feeler, and projections upon the feeler supporting member coperating with said` cam surfaces to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when upon a detecting beat the filling fails to hold the feeler from its side swipe movement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ISAAC SNOW. 

